Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has made his entry into the world of cricket by acquiring the Harare Hurricane franchise in the upcoming Zim Afro T10 tournament, set to commence on July 20 in Zimbabwe.
Dutt will co-own the franchise alongside Sir Sohan Roy, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Aries Group of Companies. This venture marks their first foray into the sport of cricket.
"As one of the biggest nations in the sport, I feel it is our duty to take the game to every corner of the world. Zimbabwe has a rich history in the sport, and to be associated with that and bring joy to the fans is something that truly excites me," said Sanjay Dutt, Co-Owner of Harare Hurricanes, in a media release. Cricket is akin to a religion in India, and Dutt expressed his eagerness for the Harare Hurricanes to perform exceptionally well in the Zim Afro T10 tournament.
The Zim Afro T10, with the final scheduled for July 29, will be held exclusively in Harare, making it franchise cricket's inaugural venture in Zimbabwe. The tournament will feature five privately owned teams vying for the coveted top prize. The other four teams include Durban Qalandars, CapeTown Samp Army, Bulawayo Braves, and the Joburg Lions.
The players' draft for the tournament is slated to take place on July 2 in Harare, where the teams will assemble their squads.
Zimbabwe Cricket Managing Director, Mr. Givemore Makoni, expressed his pleasure at seeing prominent names from the entertainment industry supporting the Zim Afro T10. He believes their involvement is a testament to the tournament's positive reception and expressed his hope for a remarkable performance from the Harare Hurricanes.
Sohan Roy, who will be working alongside Sanjay Dutt as co-owner of the Harare Hurricanes, expressed his delight at realizing a childhood dream through this association. He described the T10 format as the most entertaining and enterprising in the sport, and he is confident that the Harare Hurricanes will embody those characteristics at the Zim Afro T10.
Nawab Shaji Ul Mulk, Founder and Chairman of T Ten Global Sports, hailed the partnership between Sohan Roy and Sanjay Dutt as a dream collaboration. Ul Mulk expressed his happiness that they chose the Zim Afro T10 as the starting point for their cricketing journey. He praised their dynamic leadership qualities and predicted that their team, the Harare Hurricanes, would demonstrate those traits in the tournament.
With the inclusion of prominent personalities from the entertainment industry, the Zim Afro T10 is poised to showcase the exciting amalgamation of cricket and entertainment in Zimbabwe, bringing joy to cricket enthusiasts across the country.